The Widow and the Rock Star

by J. Thomas-Like

  When the tour finally ended and we got back to LA, we were able to crash in the house we bought together, trying to catch up on a year’s worth of sleep. It took me almost two weeks to rid myself of jet lag and find the energy to get upright and conscious in a somewhat normal or meaningful way. I spent the time lounging around, watching TV, eating like a pig, and returning phone calls or emails I hadn’t gotten to while on the road. Except for the brief appearance on Good Day LA, we had no pressing engagements or band obligations for at least three months.

  I finally felt like myself and got restless for some nightlife. I opted to head out alone and decided the perfect place would be The Relic: low key, out of the way, good beer.

  At first, I thought it was a mistake because I got recognized immediately. A small melee ensued with waves of girls clamoring toward me, shouting “Will! Will!” I was lucky Hank the bouncer was working. He stamped out the wildfire by pushing the girls away and shoving me into a corner of the bar. I put on my “don’t fuck with me” face and soon people were ignoring me, probably thinking I was an asshole. That bothered me a little, because I’m not an asshole. My reputation was that of a basically regular guy who hadn’t let fame go to his head. But I didn’t want to be hassled, and I thought I could slip into the bar unnoticed to have a few beers and enjoy some music. Stupid me. Even ten years later, I couldn’t get it through my thick head that people knew my face.

  Luckily, after a while, one band would leave the stage and the crowd would thin out, only to thicken with new fans of the new band. I melted into my corner of the bar, against the wall, and I wasn’t a famous rock star anymore, just another schmoe with a brew. I was able to get rid of the scowl and loosen up while the music played and the beer flowed.

  Women eyed me from time to time, maybe recognizing me, maybe not, but I didn’t give them a second glance. I had thought about wearing sunglasses when I left the house, but what kind of asshat wears shades in a dim bar at night? A famous rock star who wants to get recognized, not a guy who hopes to get lost in the crowd.

  After two beers, I was mellowing enough to think about heading home when I saw a dainty little redhead approach the bar. She had on a dress that looked like goldish, smooth tinfoil or something, and it molded to her body in a sexy way, but not enough to make her look like a slut. And it wasn’t freakishly short, like so many of the skirts and dresses on the other women in the place. I thought she might be the one who’d come in with Pepper, but I couldn’t be sure. Plus, I meet so many people every freakin’ day, it was hard for me to keep names and faces straight. She teetered in her high-heel boots and was having trouble getting close enough to order. She didn’t look like the regular girls who haunted The Relic. She didn’t have the same pushy confidence that women in LA bars had. I didn’t get the “look at me, notice me, discover me” vibe from her. Then she got body checked right into my arm.

  “Oops, I’m sorry,” she said, but I could barely hear her above the noise of the crowd. She grabbed my arm before she could stumble, and my hand went instinctively to her back.

  “No worries.” I moved so she could touch the edge of the bar and steady herself. I caught myself staring at her because she really was oddly familiar. She was a cute little thing, so when she wasn’t looking, I raised my arm and got the bartender’s attention for her. I was at least a foot taller, so I got a nice peek over her shoulder and down at the slope of her chest. I smirked and considered it payback for my good deed. As soon as Kurt the bartender shuffled over to help, I turned back to the stage and tried to forget about her.

  Chapter 5

  I was jostled by the long-haired bass player from The Mini Coopers as he walked away from the bar. I stumbled into someone else, grabbing his arm for support. Looking up, a dazzling set of green eyes locked onto mine.

  “Oops, I’m sorry!” I paused, realizing his hand was hot against the small of my back.

  “No worries.” His voice was smooth, melodic and vaguely familiar. He had short, dark hair, tousled with the crunchy look of gel, and he hadn’t shaved. It gave him a grungy kind of appeal. He smelled like beer, leather and sweat. An image of his lips on mine flashed across my inner TV screen and I got that all-over warm feeling like just before you faint. Luckily, I didn’t crumple to the floor. He was the sexiest man I had seen in a very long time. But then again, drop-dead gorgeous wasn’t common where I came from. He smiled down at me and then moved aside so I could get a little closer to the bar. I turned to check on Pepper and saw her watching and beaming.

  “Thanks.” I nodded my head and then turned my attention to getting the bartender to notice me, filing a mental photograph of the sexy guy away in my brain for when I got back to my boring life. When I returned to the table, Pepper was saying goodbye to a woman.

  “I’ll give you a call, Pep.”

  “You do that, Gina.”

  When she was gone, I nudged Pepper in the arm.

  “What was that about?”

  “Her boyfriend hit on me at a party a couple of weeks ago. I told her and she didn’t believe me, but then she caught him scamming on another woman a few days later. I was just telling her, once a cheater always a cheater. Hopefully she’ll chuck the bum before she wastes too much more time on him.”

  “That’s pretty harsh. Are you sure you should have told her anything?” I asked, worried she was poking her nose where it didn’t belong.

  “Harsh or not, I tell it like it is. I try not to be deliberately bitchy, but her guy hit on me. Not only is that disrespectful to me, but more so to her and she shouldn’t have to put up with it. Besides, you know me. I’m always the one telling people the truth and getting shit on for it.”

  “You sound like a sexier version of Dr. Phil,” I teased.

  Pepper choked and then coughed with laughter.

  “Did you ever think at almost forty you’d still be dealing with such high school drama?”

  I shook my head and sighed, resting my chin on the back of my hand and staring into the crowd. I could see a couple arguing near the stage, their hands flying as they shouted at one another.

  “No, not really. But LA is kind of like Neverland. No one here really grows up.” Pepper looked a little wistful, but shook it off and sipped her beer. “What took you so long?”

  “Man candy at the bar. There are quite a few good looking specimens here tonight.”

  Pepper nodded in agreement.

  “You look hot as hell, my friend.”

  “Ack, no, I’m way overdressed.”

  “This is LA, Viv. No one is ever overdressed.” Pepper shook her head and rolled her eyes.

  Now I was having fun. People came to our table to say hello to Pepper and she introduced me to everyone. I’d never remember all the names, but the faces were friendly and they had kind words of welcome for me. Pepper even told some of them about The Widow’s Path and the foundation. Only a few had heard of the book and no one had actually read it, but I didn’t care. I was honored to have Pepper make such a big deal of it. Some of her friends even asked how they could donate to the cause. In between all the introductions, I would let my eyes travel back to the bar, searching for Mr. Man Candy. I was never able to see him for more than a second or two before the next person came to the table, or some other person across the bar would block my view.

  Best of all, Pepper wasn’t pressuring me to do or think or feel any more than I wanted to. My best friend could be pretty pushy, but I knew I needed it most of the time. I could never have admitted to her I sometimes wished she had talked me out of marrying Bruce when I was only nineteen. If I hadn’t, my life might have been completely different. But then I might not have ever written The Widow’s Path. Life was a tradeoff. Losing my husband at twenty-two sent me rocketing down a road that was too late to change.

  Paper Magic took the stage and Pepper forced me out to dance. I never could handle my liquor, so after two drinks I was able to lose some of my inhibitions. Plus, I didn’t know any of these people. Eventually I would g
o home, never to see them again. As we hopped and bounced our way to the dance floor, I caught a glimpse of Man Candy and I swore he was ogling Pepper. Any other person might have been disappointed, but I was used to my best friend getting all the attention. Besides, I wasn’t feeling like an almost forty-year-old woman, and I certainly didn’t act like it that night. Pepper said we were going to relive our youth, so I jumped on board with both feet.

  Chapter 6

  “I need to hit the ladies room. You okay?” Pepper asked Vivienne. Her friend’s face glistened with perspiration from all the dancing. Viv was smiling and relaxed, which made Pepper feel happy.

  “Yep, I’m great.” Vivienne swayed in her chair to the song on the loudspeaker. “I love this song!” It was some ’80s hair band tune playing over the sound system.

  “Good,” Pepper laughed. “I’ll be right back.” She left her purse on the table and then hightailed it toward the bathrooms. She looked back to see Vivienne still bobbing her head back and forth, with her eyes closed, and Pepper changed direction toward the bar. Standing on tiptoe, she scanned the faces until she found the one she wanted. Keeping an eye on Viv, Pepper strode up to a sexy, dark-haired man dressed in jeans, a white tee-shirt and black leather motorcycle jacket, who lounged against the bar nursing a Red Hook.

  “Hello, Will.” Pepper wedged in next to him.

  “There she is!” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, then slipped his arm around her waist, squeezing. “I saw you come in earlier.”

  “Slumming tonight, are we?” She raised her left eyebrow at him.

  “Come on, you know me better than that.” Will gave her another, more gentle squeeze.

  “I’m just kidding.” Pepper threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for real and they rocked from side to side. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you in forever.”

  “I’ve been on tour for a year. And the TV show kept me busy before that.”

  “Yeah, I bet! Television agrees with you. I watched every week.” Pepper crossed her heart, thinking about Wednesday nights watching Band Nation, the talent competition Will hosted. Even in the dim light, she could see the flush of pride on Will’s face. Pepper snuck a peek back to the table where Vivienne waited patiently. “Seriously, it’s good to see you. I’m glad you haven’t forgotten the little people.”

  “Never.” Will’s face was grim. “Especially not you.”

  Pepper grinned but then grew solemn.

  “I was sorry to hear about your breakup with Lucy.”

  “Don’t be,” Will spat. “I’m not.”

  “I see.” Pepper searched his face, her blue eyes sparkling. “Not over her yet?”

  “Oh I’m over her,” Will promised. “It just pisses me off I was so blind for so long. She was just using me.”

  Pepper pushed out her lower lip in sympathy and shook her head.

  “I tried to tell you.”

  “Yes, you did. And I’m sorry I didn’t listen.” Will turned to face her directly. “I really am sorry.” Pepper remembered their heated conversation more than two years ago. She’d given him all the proof he needed that Lucy was scheming and cheating on him, yet Will hadn’t wanted to believe any of it. She could still hear the sound of his voice when he’d told her to mind her own business and get the fuck out of his life.

  “I know you are.” She punched his arm lightly. “It’s okay, really. I’ve gotten used to being the person who gets smacked in the face for telling the truth.” Pepper hoped that her face wouldn’t betray her words, because it wasn’t something she would ever get used to. It broke her heart every time she was honest with someone about something they didn’t want to hear and she got the brunt of their abuse. But she wouldn’t stop doing it if there was a chance she could save a friend some pain.

  Will nodded his head.

  “You gotta stop that.”

  “So they tell me,” Pepper sniffed. Pausing only for a moment, she leaned in close again so Will would be able to hear her. She had gotten an idea when she saw Vivienne at the bar with Will a couple of hours ago, and she was now in a position to put it in motion. It was now or never. “I’m going to cut to the chase. Are you seeing anyone?”

  Will looked startled. Pepper put her hands on his chest and laughed. “Don’t look like that. I’m not asking for me.” Again, she glanced at Vivienne who seemed to be scanning the crowd for her. Pepper took Will by the arms and switched places with him so she could use him as a shield to block Vivienne’s view.

  Will’s shoulders lowered and his eyes went back to their usual half-lidded sexiness. His easy smile also returned.

  “I didn’t mean to do that Pepper. It’s just that you know we’re better as friends.”

  “Yes, I’m aware.”

  “Then why are you asking?”

  Pepper grinned wickedly and wiggled her eyebrows. Tapping a finger to her cheek, she batted her eyelashes.

  “Well, you see, I have this friend—”

  “Stop right there—”

  “But—”

  “I don’t want—”

  “Hear me out!” Pepper cut him off and pulled him forward so they were practically nose to nose. “I have this friend who’s in town for a couple of weeks and I think you’d really like her.”

  Will cocked his head to the side and leaned back a little.

  “If she’s only here for a couple of weeks, why bother? Besides the fact that I’m not looking for a set up.”

  “Well, it’s not really a set up, per se.” Pepper’s eyes lowered and she needlessly adjusted one of the straps of her dress. Her confidence in the spur-of-the-moment plan was waning. “I was thinking more of a, well, a hookup.”

  “What?” Will nearly dropped his beer. His mouth gaped open and he took a step away from Pepper.

  “Come on, Will.” Pepper tapped her foot in exasperation. “I remember, once upon a time, a guy who was good for a little fun.” She twisted her hips back and forth suggestively trying to get him excited about the prospect.

  “Yeah, that guy was ten years younger. You know I don’t do that kind of shit anymore.” Will shook his head and took a long draw on his beer, draining it. He put the empty bottle on the bar and took a long time to swallow while signaling the bartender for another. “It always ends up in the ’bloids, for Chrissake.”

  Pepper chewed on her bottom lip, struggling to find the words to convince her one friend that her other friend was worth a detour off the morals highway.

  “At least come talk to her for a few minutes. She’s really brilliant.” She pushed on his chest to make him take a step backward in the hopes of moving him closer to her goal and to Vivienne.

  “Pepper, don’t.”

  “She’s right over there. Tell me she’s not the most gorgeous creature you’ve ever seen.” Pepper turned him toward the tables and pointed to Vivienne, who was once again smiling and swaying with her eyes closed. Pepper held her breath while Will peered into the crowd, following her finger, hoping he would be overtaken with lust and fall into line with the spontaneous plan she had cooked up.

  “I saw her earlier.” Will clearly recognized Vivienne, nodding his head up and down slowly. “We bumped into each other at the bar.”

  “Then you know how adorable she is!” Pepper bobbed up and down, clapping her hands together with glee, not letting on that she had seen the whole thing.

  Will shrugged.

  “Yeah, she’s cute.” His answer was noncommittal and Pepper couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. She put her hands on her hips and scowled.

  “That’s not very encouraging.” She hoped he was just playing it cool, but Will was a hard read when he didn’t want you to know his thoughts.

  “What?” Will raised his shoulders again. “Okay, she’s beautiful.”

  Pepper nodded approvingly, waiting for more. When he didn’t give her what she wanted, Pepper waved her hand in a circular motion to prompt him.

  “But?”

  “She looks too smar
t for me. Not my type. You know I’m all about the beauty queens.”

  “Stick figures with fake hair and no boobs,” Pepper growled. “Or fake boobs and no brains.”

  “Exactly.” Will put his hands out. “At least I’m honest about it.”

  “I call bullshit,” Pepper muttered, pretending to punch him in the gut. “Look, I’m not asking you to marry her. I just want her to have an experience while she’s here that she’ll never get back home. You’ve been single for a while now.”

  “Where’s back home?”

  “Michigan,” Pepper answered, nibbling on her thumb and watching as Vivienne drained the last of her drink.

  “What’s she doing out here?”

  “Long story, but she wrote a best seller and is negotiating for the movie rights. It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to her, so I took her to one of those celebrity parties on Mulholland. It was a total bust.”

  “Why the hell did you do that? Those people suck.” Will gave her a reproachful look.

  “Tell me about it. They treated us like red-headed stepchildren.”

  “So you bring her here instead?” Will’s tone was incredulous.

  “Hey, it’s what she knows. The people are real and she doesn’t feel out of place.” Pepper moved behind Will just as Vivienne’s eyes opened and she once again looked around, this time more nervously.

  “Look, I never expected to see you here tonight and the idea just popped into my head. I’m sorry I brought it up.” She tried to look contrite, but knew she wasn’t doing a good job of hiding her irritation at Will’s refusal to cooperate.